The Ugandan football community is in mourning following the death of David Owori, captain of Uganda Premier League club Sports Club Villa and a national team representative. Owori was fatally injured during a robbery in Kampala on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old right-back and midfielder was attacked after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings. Witnesses reportedly saw attackers hit Owori with paving stones before robbing him and fleeing, leaving him unconscious.
Racheal Kawala, a spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Police, stated that passersby found Owori unconscious and took him to a nearby hospital. He was later transferred to another hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Owori helped SC Villa secure a record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024. He began his senior career in 2016 with Vipers Sports Club and had stints in Europe with Vélez CF in Spain and Utsiktens BK in Sweden. He also played for the national team in the qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
SC Villa expressed profound sorrow, stating, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the untimely passing of our captain, Owori, who had been receiving treatment at Case Clinic following an attack by suspected thugs.” The Federation of Uganda Football Associations described Owori as “a leader and an inspiration to a generation.” The Ugandan parliament observed a minute of silence in his honour on Wednesday.